Professors of English are professionals who teach English-language and literature and related subjects at colleges and universities. An English professor is usually required to publish articles and write books about literature. Therefore, being an English Literature professor requires a critical approach to literature, practical communication skills, a post-secondary education, and a willingness to dedicate years to study.
See the roadmap for becoming an English professor in Canada.
Have you ever wondered if it's necessary to have a doctorate or a master's degree to become an English professor? This article will reveal all the educational requirements you need to pursue a career in English and become a professor in a particular field within the English department.
What Education Do I Need to Become an English Professor in Canada?
It's not enough to be educated; you may also be interested in how much English professors earn. And how long it could take to become a professor before applying for English professor jobs in Canada, you must attain a certain education level. Here is a breakdown of the education you may need to achieve your career goals as a professor of English language in a college or university.
- Get a bachelor's degree
- Apply for graduate teaching jobs
- Get a master's degree
- Gather experience
- Publish books and articles in your field
- Get a doctorate
- Get necessary qualifications and licenses
A bachelor's degree program is the prerequisite for becoming an English professor in Canada. But a master's degree is a starting point. Generally, it takes 3-4 years to complete a bachelor's degree program. Therefore, while applying for your master's program, it's essential to start building experience in your field of specialization in English.
Depending on your career goals, you may have to take up teaching jobs in high schools or work as a graduate assistant in a college or university. Another essential aspect of becoming a professor is learning how to create an environment that fosters learning for students.
Afterwards, you must fall in love with research and publish your works online and in print. Even with all these, you may not likely get a job as an English professor if you fail to proceed with your study by applying for a doctorate program in your field.
Many English professor jobs may require that you have a handful of published works in your field. This is to demonstrate your English proficiency and expertise. Undoubtedly, this calls for specialization. Therefore, you may choose an area of focus before applying for a doctorate program.
Common areas of focus for English professors include creative writing, poetry, and English literature.
How Can a Doctorate Help My Teaching Career?
Pursuing a doctorate in education represents a commitment and passion unmatched by most people. As this area involves a tremendous amount of work and responsibility, it requires extreme dedication. In addition to higher education systems, K-12 schools, private firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, this type of program graduates advance their careers in numerous fields.
An EdD and a PhD are the two focus areas in a doctorate program. Doctorates in Education (EdD) focus more on school administrative and research roles. The Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD) prepares individuals to become professors in whatever field they choose
As a result of this level of learning, your understanding of pivotal techniques and methods will be greatly enhanced, enabling you to create a more rewarding and productive learning environment for your students. To design a curriculum and ensure a quality experience, coursework requires a deeper understanding of the various approaches to curriculum design.
In addition to improving your pay grade and reputation within the academic field, a doctoral degree also enhances your reputation. A doctoral degree in education usually depends on what career one wants to pursue.
Students seeking doctorates and PhDs at colleges and universities need to demonstrate the same tenacity and determination they displayed in obtaining their degrees.
Are There English Courses in Montreal for English Teachers?
Undoubtedly, to become an English professor in Canada, one of the crucial steps you must take is gaining some years of experience as a teacher. Therefore, if you are in Montreal, you may find it helpful to have opportunities to advance in your career pursuits and land teaching jobs easily in your province.
However, prospective teachers need to know that the educational system in Quebec, where Montreal is located, is different from other provinces. Although many schools teach English, there is more emphasis on the French language.
Nevertheless, there are still a handful of English courses in many colleges and universities in Montreal. Finding English courses for aspiring English professors in international schools is easier. These schools offer a blend of English and French classes to give students a solid foundation in both languages.
Since Montreal has a large immigrant population, there are many opportunities to teach English as a second language to the populace and help them acquit themselves with speaking and writing English in western countries. Learning English so you can share your knowledge with others using a variety of mediums (classroom teaching, social media, articles, books, and public speaking) is an exciting experience for many. However, nowadays, many English courses are designed to suit the needs of anyone who hates seeing the four walls of a classroom.
Fortunately, colleges and universities in Canada have endorsed these learning options, and many offer online distance-learning English courses.
So, as an aspiring English professor in Canada, you have more than enough options on your plate for learning your beloved language and developing the skills you may need to succeed in teaching English across different levels.
Coursera: the platform offers a wide range of English courses for beginners. They are ideal for anyone who wants to build their teaching career from scratch. Their English courses are structured into modules, PDFs, and videos.
Udemy: here is another popular online platform for learning English at any level. Finding English online courses that fit your schedule and meet your learning goals is easy. For example, you can find English courses online for beginners, intermediate and advanced students.
Superprof: it's hard to research English courses for Canadians online without bumping on Superprof. They are among the most reliable platforms for learning English and teaching skills from home. If you have envisioned learning on your terms and schedule, irrespective of location, you should consider enrolling for English lessons on Superprof.
Even though you are already an expert in English grammar, you could seek help from more experienced tutors. They would be more than happy to show the practical ways to learn vital skills and develop your passion for teaching.
You will find these resources helpful when you begin building your career and pursue academic goals in the teaching profession.
Is 60 Too Old to Become an English Teacher?
You are never too old to teach or learn the English language. However, suppose you are considering early retirement to enable you to explore teaching jobs as a passion or pursue a career as a professor. In that case, you should be realistic about your expectations, the type of teacher jobs you want, and the location you choose to job hunt.
Unlike a native English speaker with excellent teaching skills, you may have challenges getting a teaching license or certification at that age. Aside from that, it's easier for younger teachers to get in most provinces in Canada than it is for the elderly.
What is the career Outlook for English Professors in Canada?
Pursuing a doctorate program in English is worth it for many students because it is a critical path to becoming an English professor in their desired college or university.
Students passionate about teaching or helping others live useful life by getting the necessary education may find this career path fulfilling and exciting.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics had projected a 9% increase for English professors across many disciplines within the field. However, most opportunities will be found at part-time and non-tenure track schools and part-time or non-tenure track jobs.
Over the next decade, English professors are projected to increase by 2%, from 81,300 to 82,900. Despite tight budgets, hiring will be constrained at public colleges. Lastly, English and humanities teachers will average fare better than nursing and engineering professors.
With these projections, there is no better time to jump on the career train and walk your way up the growth ladder to become a professor of English in Canada eventually.
Final Thought
Now that you know the educational requirements for becoming an English professor in Canada, you may also want to know if you need many years of teaching experience and take the proper steps to become an English professor by enrolling in a bachelor's or master's program.
What if you already have these qualifications? You may pursue a doctorate program in your specialty in the English language and explore many other possibilities in teaching.
The bottom line is not to give up on your career pursuits; develop the right skills and practice self-discipline so you can attain a level of education and comfortably apply for professor jobs in Canada.
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